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Wednesday, March 9, 2011

UGA reports five violations stemming from Ray Drew's announcement

Ray Drew’s announcement in January brought plenty of joy to Georgia fans. As it turned out, it also brought a few NCAA violations.

Georgia reported five violations to the SEC office as a result of Drew’s announcement, according to a copy of a letter athletics director Greg McGarity sent to the SEC. It doesn’t appear that the Georgia football program is itself at fault, and the violations seem to be secondary in nature. The eligibility of Drew, rated the nation’s ninth overall prospect by Rivals.com, isn’t likely to be jeopardized. (The AJC reported the violations first on Wednesday.)

Here's a copy of the letter McGarity sent the SEC.

The violations center on Drew’s decision to have two former Bulldogs, David Pollack and Randall Godfrey, present at his announcement in Thomasville. That’s a no-no according to NCAA rules, although Georgia says neither player is officially a booster or associated with the program, other than being former players. (McGarity’s letter does not name Pollack and Godfrey, but the pair of former players were prominently in attendance at Drew’s announcement.)

“UGA regrets that this violation occurred but believes this was an isolated/one-time incident with some unusual and atypical circumstances,” McGarity wrote to the SEC.

McGarity’s letter detailed five specific violations:

1. 13.1.2.1 — General Rule (regarding unauthorized off-campus recruitment)
2. 13.1.2.2 (g) — General Exceptions/Unavoidable Incidental Contact
3. 13.1.2.4 (d) — Restrictions, Athletics Representatives/Visiting Prospective Student-Athlete’s Institution
4. 13.1.2.5 — Off-Campus Contacts or Evaluations
5. 13.10.2 — Comments Before Signing


In the letter, McGarity said the incident showed there was “a gap in our education efforts to our former letter-winners.”

The letter outlines in detail all contact between Drew and the former letter-winners, including three run-ins before Drew’s announcement. Those are included among the five reported violations.

Georgia became aware of the potential violations after Drew’s announcement, upon hearing that the former Bulldog players were there. It undertook its own investigation and then McGarity addressed the letter to SEC commissioner Mike Slive earlier this week.

McGarity's letter said the decision for the two former players to attend Drew's announcement came "without the knowledge of UGA's football staff." Drew told the AJC that “Georgia coaches knew nothing about it.”

21 comments:

PTC DAWG said...

Dumbest rule ever. So the players were just there, they were not paid by the school, etc...

More and more the Ncaa rules are GARBAGE.

Anonymous said...

I'm sure the NCAA will be fair and rational in suspending Raw Drew for the entire season...

Meanwhile, OSU will get a slap on the wrist.

TrboDawg said...

I'm so glad that “Georgia coaches knew nothing about it.” - that's the golden ticket to escape NCAA sanctions...

Jake said...

NCAA rules are dumb. Signing parties are dumb. Ray Drew should stop acting like a celebrity before he has played one college down. Prove you are a star before you start acting like one.

UGA69Dawg said...

Once again UGA self-inflicts a wound. This is a case where you ignore it and if the NCAA says something you hold a presser and tell them to kiss your butt sort of like Ohio State did.

Bourbon Dawgwalker said...

FAHR MARK RICHT!!!!!

Calif Dawg said...

Not sure how they can site Pollack as a violation. He is a working member of the media and should have been credentialed. Is the NCAA now saying they can control who covers what events? Spend some time at AU and get that mess cleaned up first.

Anonymous said...

McGarity continues to make dumb and dumber decisions. Letting ex-players attend recruiting announcements? come on. Where'd Georgia get this guy from, any AD experience?

Anonymous said...

Mark Richt needs to be fired. He has clearly lost control of the program. He clearly hasn't gotten any smarter with his recruiting either. Kick Drew off the team for this. He's clearly a thug. He hasn't even stepped foot on campus and has already broken rules. Unacceptable.

ColumbiaDawg said...

When I read that Pollack and Godfrey were there, I knew this would happen. They should have known better. If they had the slightest doubt about whether or not being there was within the rules, then they should have consulted the Georgia compliance office.

Anonymous said...

This just shows we(UGA) pay a guy 3 million dollars a year who is asleep at the wheel. This guy cant beat Florida nor will he win a championship without Donnan players. Mark Richt must go. !

PTC DAWG said...

Nice to see the GT trolls out in force.

I guess Star Trek isn't on.

Ginny said...

The best part is that it's obvious that it's just one person posting multiple times. Pathetic.

Chris said...

Shut up NERD!!!
This doesn't bother me in the least. Tressel has had 375 secondary violations since he's been at OSU.
What is frustrating is why the NCAA has rules that aren't enforced? What then is the point?

ColumbiaDawg said...

The coaches had nothing to do with this. Neither did McGarity. If they were involved, they would have said absolutely do not go there. They had no prior knowledge that Godfrey and Pollack would be there. I can guarantee you McGarity was pretty irritated about it when he read the story because he knew he would have to report it the NCAA.

Anonymous said...

What a stupid rule, but knowing the NCAA they will suspend Drew for the 1st for games to make an example out of him. Next thing you know Pollock will be considered an agent under NCAA rules. HA!

Anonymous said...

Why Techies must troll UGA boards to display their outrage at losing every year is beyond me.

Coach Richt is the right guy for us, great recruiting class, willing to make changes (maybe belated) and our strength and conditioning is already improving discipline (Ealey).

And Hines is on DWTS #86

Go Dawgs!

David Davis said...

I'm actually happy to see the new AD take responsibility and write the letter. Much better than what Ohio State is doing right nowl

Anonymous said...

U should have offered his dad money and then the NCAA would have turned a blind eye.

Anonymous said...

Time to fire some clowns in Athens.

Anonymous said...

And you guys think Auburn cheats? How bout taking a look in the mirror, cheaters. It is now a fact that UGA broke some rules, whereas Auburn was never proven to have broken anything. Truth hurts.